Blinded on Purpose (even though we don't know it)
Alessandra Neves
People & Culture Executive | Fractional CHRO| Self-management and Team Management facilitator | Speaker and Cinema addicted
An ambitious young executive received a compelling offer for the position of Deputy CEO. Promising opportunity, with the potential for a significant career advancement.
What is exactly a “Deputy CEO”? The scope was not well defined during the interviews. However, there was a clear understanding that this role was created to support the CEO succession.
Beautiful premise, but with a small detail: the succession wasn’t agreed with the current CEO. The expected result was gaslighting, stress, and deception. After enduring six months of disappointment and distress, the once-ambitious executive decided to resign.
On the other side of the globe, a Commercial Director was interviewed for a Sales Enablement position in a large company undergoing substantial change and digitization. During discussions with the newly hired Chief Commercial Officer, who was supposed to be the leader, the candidate realized the executive was uncertain about the exact nature of the role he was interviewing to.
With some clarifying questions, the candidate concluded the role he was applying to wasn't essential to the company's needs as initially thought and ended up recommending assistants to the CMO, instead.
The advice proved valuable, leading to the cancellation of the position.
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I share this story because I, too, fell prey to the allure of an exciting position, company, and leader. However, the enthusiasm for a promotion, a new chapter, a change, can blind us to the simple truth—perhaps the position isn't what we believe it to be. In our eagerness to accept what we believe is good for us, we may overlook red flags:
These scenarios can derail our careers if we fail to ask enough questions or be straightforward and detailed about what the position entails. With some effort, we can save ourselves from stress, frustration, and career missteps, all of which come at the cost of time, health, and money.
I wish you all a happy week.
Great advice! I would add a potential collateral damage in the “Deputy CEO” situation. How would your resume look like if your next job is lower than a C level? It may look like you’re descending in you career.
Helping people design a new future and navigate change and growth with ease and curiosity | Transformational Career Coach & Mentor | Advisor for Entrepreneurs | Facilitator | Certified Coach and Global HR Executive
1 年Nice article Alessandra Neves! Very often candidates are attracted by compelling job titles or only see the opportunity as a fast-track for their careers without doing a proper due diligence on the role and on the company’s culture. In other cases, they use the first opportunity to get out of a toxic relationship with their current employer and end up in the same situation.